Construction

-- Hotels, 6/1/2007

Raffles Expands In China With Tianjin Hotel

TIANJIN, CHINA As Tianjin's first penthouse hotel, Raffles Tianjin will occupy the top 32nd to 45th floors of Tianjin Centre's West Tower. Scheduled to open in 2008 with 116 rooms and suites, the hotel's décor will exude residential charm and a sense of intimacy and luxury.

A dramatic feature of the hotel will be the rooftop restaurant and bar, which will offer sweeping views of the city. Raffles Tianjin also will have banquet and meeting facilities for social and corporate events and will feature Raffles Hotels & Resorts' lifestyle concept, RafflesAmrita Spa.

"Tianjin is a dynamic and rapidly growing city with excellent business facilities and a rich heritage," says Raffles' Managing Director Diana Ee Tan. "Raffles Tianjin will distinguish itself through the highest standards of hospitality, service and cuisine that are widely associated with the Raffles name."

Fairmont Plans US$200 Million Restoration Of Savoy

LONDON Fairmont Hotels & Resorts will proceed with a US$200 million restoration of The Savoy, London, including upgrades to suites overlooking the Thames, renovation of guestrooms, corridors, public areas and the reopening of the River Restaurant. The date when the hotel will cease taking reservations is currently set for December 2007 when the restoration process is scheduled to begin. The Savoy will reopen in 2009. "For us, the most important thing was to honor the art deco heritage and traditional English design of the hotel, while upgrading the property to meet the expectations of today's most discerning guests," General Manager Kiaran MacDonald says. "When The Savoy reopens we hope to set new British standards for excellence in design, décor and personalized service." The hotel is expected to be closed for approximately 16 months during the renovation. "It was a difficult decision to close down the hotel, but we could not envision disrupting our guests on a daily basis," MacDonald says. "A project of this scope could take much longer if the hotel remained open for business and we wish to stick to a rigorous schedule in order to reopen as quickly as possible."

Emirates Unveils Seychelles Project

MAHE, SEYCHELLES Emirates Hotels and Resorts has announced a new project in Mahe, Seychelles, the Emirates Cap Ternay Resort & Spa, slated to open in 2010 with an investment of US$253 million. This is the largest international investment by Emirates Hotels & Resorts, and one of the largest ever in the islands of Seychelles.

Construction will commence in 2008 with the resort's two distinct areas spread over 22 ac. (8.9 ha) of land. The main resort features 186 rooms planned for families and budget-conscious travelers, and 230 deluxe rooms designed as semidetached, cottage-style complexes situated in landscaped beachfront locations.

A private resort area, directly modeled on the exclusivity, standards and luxury provided by the Emirates Al Maha Desert Resort and Spa, will feature 15 water bungalows, the first of their kind in Seychelles. This area also will house 40 two-bedroom villas and a presidential suite of more than 600 sq. m. The villas and the suite, each featuring a private pool and deck, are located on a forested hillside with ocean views over Baie Ternay Marine Sanctuary and Morne Seychellois National Park.

At the heart of the site will be one of the largest swimming pools in the Indian Ocean, covering 6 ac. (2.5 ha), and made up of a series of cascading pools with a children's pool, a pool bar and smaller private pools set into landscaped coves, all catering to different needs.

The Timeless Spa will feature 10 double treatment rooms; eight specialist treatment rooms providing hydro and related beauty therapies; gymnasium; and a specialist health-food restaurant. The resort also will develop several specialty restaurants, entertainment facilities, children's park and a recreation area.

Purgatory Lodge Coming To Durango

DURANGO, COLORADO Purgatory at Durango Mountain Resort has announced the groundbreaking launch of Purgatory Lodge, a three-phase, US$100 million project that will reconstruct and revitalize Purgatory Village, its lodging and the resort's base area. Phase I is a US$35 million, 130,000-sq.ft. (12,027 sq. m) slopeside development, featuring new, upscale resort amenities and services, commercial space and lodging units. Situated just feet from the Village Express 6-pack chairlift, Phase I units will provide an unmatched ski-in/ski-out location for guests when it is completed in fall 2008.

Hilton Signs 2 Doubletrees For China

CHINA Hilton Hotels Corp. has signed contracts to manage the Doubletree by Hilton Beijing and the Doubletree by Hilton Kunshan. Both properties in China are scheduled to open in 2008. Hilton signed a long-term agreement with China Overseas Real Estate Development Corp. (CORED) to manage the Beijing property with 455 guestrooms, 98 upscale residences, and three contemporary food and beverage outlets, including 24-hour dining. Part of the mixed-use Lar Valley International Development, the Doubletree will provide a health club, ballroom and unique roof garden. The hotel will offer extensive conference, banquet and wedding ceremony facilities, featuring state-of-the-art audiovisual and communications technology. Owned by Kunshan Guangting Property Co. Ltd., the new Doubletree by Hilton Kunshan will be located in the town of Huaqiao, which is strategically located between Shanghai and Suzhou. Designed by Hong Kong-based Steve Leung Architects, the hotel will comprise 397 guestrooms, three food and beverage outlets, two ballrooms and a wide range of conference and banquet facilities. It also will have a large health club and a swimming pool.